Killer denied parole in 1985 attack in Santa Cruz

VACAVILLE -- A 52-year-old man convicted of murdering a backpacker in Santa Cruz in 1985 was denied parole on Thursday.

Glenn Thomas Garvin failed to demonstrate sufficient insight into his crime and posed a threat to public safety, a parole board at California State Prison, Solano, ruled. Garvin also made inconsistent statements in his parole hearing, said Santa Cruz County prosecutor Alison Norton.

Garvin, of Soquel, was 21 on the night of the murder. He left a party in Santa Cruz and started a fight with Freeman Weedin, a 38-year-old man from Fresno.

Garvin followed Weedin into a bathroom, punched him, then chased him into a parking lot near Beach and Third streets and stabbed him several times, according to prosecutors.

Garvin was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 16 years to life in prison.

Thursday, Norton argued for denial of Garvin's parole. Another hearing will take place in five years.